Hormonal rash in newborns and infants: signs and treatment

What is a rash

A rash is an inflammation or irritation of the skin that causes the skin to become red, uneven, and may peel. The rash may be accompanied by itching and sometimes fever. Keep in mind that a child's rash could be a sign of an allergic reaction, which may require immediate medical attention. In this article we will talk about the most common types of rashes in young children. Our list is not exhaustive, and if you have any questions or concerns about your baby's skin, be sure to contact your pediatrician.

Why does a baby develop an allergic rash: looking for reasons

The long-established belief is that an allergic rash in a newborn occurs solely due to its diet, i.e. due to mother's milk, erroneously. This is certainly one of the reasons. However, other possible allergens should also be excluded.

Factors that indicate that a child is prone to allergies are:

• Having relatives who suffer from allergies, especially if it is the father or mother of the baby.
• Taking antibiotics by a child or mother.
• Artificial formula feeding.
• Complications of pregnancy due to maternal illnesses during this period.

In all these cases, the newborn is most likely predisposed to allergies. Following simple preventive measures will help prevent its occurrence.

• Clothes for a newborn should be of high quality, made from natural materials. The exception is woolen items, which can cause skin irritation.
• You need to wash your clothes thoroughly, using a special powder. An allergic rash in a baby can be a banal reaction to household chemicals. The same applies to parents’ clothing and other fabrics with which the child comes into contact.
• Check the baby cosmetics you use. It may contain components that can cause irritation. It’s better to choose reliable means. The La Cree line includes cosmetics for the care of newborns: foam shampoo for children from birth, cleansing gel and emulsion. All products have a natural composition and do not contain hormones.
• Nursing mothers should adhere to a special diet.
• An allergic rash in a formula-fed baby is no less common. In this case, the irritant is the proteins contained in infant formula. There is nothing more natural in nature than breastfeeding a baby. Mother's milk is in itself the best prevention against allergies.

What to do when an allergic rash appears in an infant?

If you cannot find the allergen on your own, consult a doctor. The pediatrician will be able to determine the cause of the rash.

Under no circumstances should you self-administer medications. If necessary, drug treatment will be prescribed.

During the treatment period, pay attention to any little things:

• Carefully monitor your baby’s hygiene and skin condition. If improperly cared for, diaper dermatitis may appear in the diaper area.
• Try not to dry out your baby's skin.
• Change wet clothes in a timely manner, do not wrap the child too tightly if it is hot indoors or outdoors - otherwise, the child may develop heat rash.
• Use special household chemicals for washing your clothes and children’s clothes, cleaning the children’s room - it is best to choose products marked “hypoallergenic”.
• It is best if there are no pets in the house that can cause allergies.
• Monitor your diet and your baby's nutrition. A nursing mother should not eat peas, beans, beets, peaches, apricots, bananas, eggs, fish, seafood, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, citrus fruits, pineapples, melon, coffee, chocolate, mushrooms, nuts, honey, and possibly products containing cow's milk protein.

Diaper rash

Diaper rash, or diaper rash, is a reddish rash that appears on your baby's skin under and around the diaper. The structure can be either flat or convex. Can cause significant discomfort to the baby. Diaper rash can occur if your baby spends too much time in a wet diaper or if the diaper is too small. If the cause of diaper rash is eliminated, it usually goes away in three to four days. Therefore, try to change your baby's diaper as often as possible. Clean the area under the diaper with wet wipes or a cloth soaked in water and, if possible, give your baby air baths. It is also recommended to use diaper rash cream to create a protective barrier on the skin.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (or itchy rash) sometimes appears in babies after the first month of life. You may notice your baby's cheeks are red and there are red, dry, flaky patches of skin on the elbow or behind the knees. In infants, atopic dermatitis appears more often on the body than on the face. The rash can be mild, but can also be accompanied by severe itching and cause great discomfort to the baby. If you suspect your baby has atopic dermatitis, consult your pediatrician - he will be able to prescribe an ointment or cream for treatment and care. To get rid of this unpleasant condition or prevent its recurrence, use mild, unscented soap to care for your baby, choose clothes made of soft fabric, and bathe your baby no more than three times a week. To wash children's clothes, use unscented products.

Childhood illnesses with skin rashes

Many childhood diseases are accompanied by different types of rashes - blisters, pimples, acne, multi-colored spots, types of rashes can be seen in the photo. Skin manifestations are inherent in infectious and non-infectious pathologies.

Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases develop when pathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites enter the body.

Types of viral rashes

Skin rashes are one of the main signs of infectious viral childhood pathologies; for each disease, the nature of the rash, its location and time of appearance are different, which greatly simplifies the diagnosis. Diseases are transmitted by airborne droplets, nutrition, and contact.

Diseases in which viral exanthems appear:

1. Measles
   is caused by an RNA virus. A papular rash, light spots on the bridge of the nose and behind the ears become noticeable 3-4 days after infection. Gradually, the rash spreads to the face, chest and upper back, skin of the arms and legs. Additional symptoms are cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis.
2. Rubella
   is caused by togavirus. A rash in the form of small pale pink spots appears already on the first day of illness, first on the face, then moves to the sides of the torso, buttocks, arms and skin of the legs. Additional symptoms are joint pain, sleep disturbance, weakness, temperature rises to 39.5 degrees or more. The disease is most often diagnosed in children aged 6 months to 2–4 years.
3. Chickenpox
   is caused by the herpes virus type 3.4, the disease is most often diagnosed in preschool children and primary schoolchildren. Vesicles cover the face, body, and sometimes mucous membranes, but there are no vesicles on the feet and palms. The first rashes appear on the face, scalp, groin and genital area, the child is bothered by severe itching, and in children the temperature rises briefly to 38–38.5 degrees.
4. Infantile roseola
   is caused by herpes virus type 6.7. The child’s temperature rises sharply, but there are no other manifestations of disease; after 4–5 days the levels also drop sharply, and a rash appears on the body.
5. Warts and papillomas
   are small pink or brown growths that can be flat or raised above the surface of the skin. Infection with papillomavirus occurs through close contact with a sick person, but pathology develops only when cellular immunity decreases.
6. Herpes simplex
   is a viral infection in which blisters form on the mucous membrane and skin of the mouth, nose, and around the lips.
7. Infectious mononucleosis
   is caused by Coxsackie enterovirus and Epstein-Barr virus. Generalized infection is accompanied by pain in the liver and spleen, swelling of the tonsils. Rashes in the form of red spots 5–15 mm in size appear on days 5–7 of illness, gradually merge, and are most often localized on the face. A special feature is that with mononucleosis the rash does not itch.
8. Erythema infectiosum
   is caused by parvovirus. At the initial stage of development, the disease occurs like a cold; after a few days, numerous red pimples appear on the face and body.
9. Molluscum
   is a viral infection; children most often become infected in swimming pools or when using hygiene items from a sick person. Initially, neoplasms appear under the skin; as the disease progresses, they come to the surface in the form of nodules; after opening, a white heterogeneous mass can be seen inside; it contains many viruses.

Important! Almost always, an infectious rash is accompanied by fever, weakness, and often enlarged lymph nodes. The rashes have a strict phasing pattern, gradually covering new areas of the skin.

Bacterial diseases

In children, bacterial diseases with skin manifestations most often occur against the background of infection with streptococci, staphylococci; microbes enter the body by airborne droplets, through wounds and scratches on the skin.

Types of pathologies:

1. Scarlet fever is caused by streptococci from group A. The rash can appear within 24 hours after infection - extensive red roseola with small pink dots inside appear on the cheeks, rough to the touch, they gradually turn pale and turn brown. The rashes from the face spread to the stomach, back, neck, and thighs, but there is no rash in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle. Additional symptoms are fever, sore throat, diarrhea, the tongue is covered with a white coating, but after a day it turns red, and papillae are clearly visible on the surface.
2. Erythema migrans is a bacterial dermatosis that occurs after a tick bite. After 1–2 days, a round spot appears at the site of the bite, the skin inside turns red, peels, and the inflammation gradually grows. Itching, tingling and irritation occur only if the bite occurs in an area with thin, sensitive skin. Without proper treatment, the infection spreads to the central nervous system and meningitis may develop.
3. Folliculitis, furunculosis, carbunculosis - inflammation of one or more hair follicles, often the pathological process spreads to surrounding tissues. The affected areas are red and hot to the touch, and the disease is often accompanied by fever.
4. Hidradenitis - ulcers form in the sweat glands, the rash is localized in the armpits, in the groin area, in the folds of the skin, the disease develops only in adolescents.
5. Streptoderma - on the face and limbs, in the folds of the skin, bubbles with purulent contents appear, which easily burst, blisters and red ulcers form.
6. Ecthyma - the skin becomes covered with deep ulcers with a diameter of 2–4 cm, the inflamed areas have a soft bottom and are covered with dry crusts.

Newborns are sometimes diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases - syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia; infection occurs in utero or as the child passes through the birth canal. Venereal rashes are varied - maculopapular rash, erosions, ulcers, chancre, nodules, they appear on the genitals, in the folds of the skin, on the face, and less often they can be found on the mucous membranes. STDs are often detected in adolescents who begin sexual activity early and have poor understanding of safe sex issues.

Staphylococci affect follicles and glands, streptococcal infections develop on smooth skin, most often around the mouth and nose.

Parasitic infections

Parasitic diseases occur when infected with lice and mites; the pathologies are very contagious and spread rapidly in children's groups.

List of common diseases:

1. Pediculosis
   is an infestation of lice. The disease is accompanied by severe itching, red dots appear on the skin, and there are many nits on the hair.
2. Scabies
   is an infection with the scabies mite. Scabies are formed on the skin - small winding lines of pink or gray color; the disease is characterized by severe itching, which intensifies at night.
3. Demodicosis
   is an infection with the demodex mite. The disease manifests itself in the form of rosacea and granulomas; sores on the face are accompanied by severe itching of the eyes and profuse lacrimation.

A rash on the body often occurs when infected with worms - parasites secrete toxic substances during their life activities, which causes severe allergic reactions

Fungal pathologies

Mycoses occur with the active growth of pathogenic fungi; they often affect not only the skin, but also the hair and nail plates; rashes usually affect large areas. The causes of diseases are long-term use of antibiotics or the use of antiseptics, disruptions in the endocrine system, poor ecology, vitamin deficiency, and frequent stress.

Types of mycoses in children:

1. Keratomycosis
   - pityriasis versicolor, pityriasis versicolor, nodular trichosporia. The diseases are characterized by the absence of an inflammatory process and minor damage to the upper layers of the epidermis.
2. Dermatophytosis
   – trichophytosis, microsporia. Pathological processes penetrate deep into the epidermis and affect nails and hair.
3. Candidiasis
   - occurs when the number of fungi of the genus Candida increases. The pathology affects the skin and mucous membranes, accompanied by the appearance of a cheesy coating with a sour odor and numerous small white pimples.
4. Deep mycoses
   – chromomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis. Fungi penetrate deep into the skin, affecting nearby tissues and internal organs.

A fungal rash looks like spots of different diameters and shapes; they can be pink or yellowish-brown, their surface is flaky and covered with scales.

Fungal diseases are often chronic, with exacerbations occurring due to weakened immunity.

Non-infectious types of rash

Non-infectious rashes occur due to improper care and may indicate disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.

The main types of rashes of non-infectious origin:

1. Neonatal acne – numerous yellow or white pimples on the forehead, cheeks, and around the nose are present at birth or appear during the first 6 months of a child’s life. The pathology occurs under the influence of the hormone estrogen, due to the active work of the sex glands, and does not require specific treatment.
2. Erythema toxicum is a reaction of a newborn’s skin to a new environment. Groups of spots of different sizes appear on the chest, buttocks, and in the bends of the limbs, yellowish-gray blisters, and the skin in the areas of the rash is dense. In a localized form, the rash disappears within 2–4 days; in a generalized and widespread form, it can persist for up to 20 days, with an increase in temperature, and the baby becomes restless due to severe itching.
3. Milia - small white nodules localized on the face. The disease develops 7–14 days after the birth of the child due to blockage of the sebaceous glands.
4. Pilar (follicular) keratosis is a chronic disease that occurs due to a disruption in the process of desquamation and keratinization of epithelial cells. Small rough nodules appear in the locations of the hair follicles, most often the disease goes away with the onset of puberty.
5. Diaper dermatitis is a consequence of improper skin care for a child. Redness, blisters, and peeling appear in the groin area, in the folds of the skin, and in places of friction with clothing.
6. Seborrheic dermatitis - develops in newborns and adolescents when the sebaceous glands are disrupted; the problem arises due to overheating, excessive sweating, dietary errors, and stress. Symptoms: the skin swells, turns red, peels, there is severe itching and burning, the condition and appearance of the hair worsens, but yellow crusts appear on the head.
7. Miliaria - skin irritation due to increased sweating, failure to comply with hygiene standards, small bubbles of pink, pearlescent, white, flesh color appear.

Swelling and itchy rashes after insect bites are a type of non-infectious rash.

Allergic skin diseases

Allergic dermatoses are quite often detected in children; they develop against the background of infectious pathologies, poor nutrition; allergens can be foods, household chemicals, pollen, animal hair, dust, and medications. Allergies are often inherited.

List of dermatoses of allergic origin:

1. Contact dermatitis
   - severe irritation occurs after contact with household chemicals, some plants, intolerance to sunlight, low temperatures. Usually blisters and red spots disappear on their own when exposure to allergens stops.
2. Diathesis
   – red, rough spots appear on the cheeks; the disease occurs in infants under one year of age if the mother consumes prohibited foods; in older children, such rashes indicate a food allergy.
3. Atopic dermatitis
   is the most common type of allergic childhood pathology and is often hereditary. A polymorphic rash in the form of red spots of irregular shape, pustules, vesicles appears in various areas, but most often on the face, head, in places where joints are bent, and in folds. Symptoms are severe itching, redness of the skin, vascular network, increased dryness of the skin, thickening of all layers of the epidermis, disturbance of the psycho-emotional state.
4. Toxidermia
   is an acute inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes that manifests itself under the influence of allergens and is characterized by the appearance of rashes, blisters, and purulent nodules. Irritants can be food, medications, toxic fumes. Additional symptoms are fever, chills, itching, inflamed areas hurt, and sometimes vomiting and nausea are observed.
5. Urticaria
   - occurs after contact with plants, insect bites, consumption of allergenic foods, during treatment with antibiotics, against the background of infectious diseases. The blisters are localized in different areas of the skin and mucous membranes, and the child is bothered by severe itching.
6. Eczema
   is often a consequence of severe stress, the disease is recurrent in nature, and aggravation is noted in winter.

Often, a rash appears during ARVI or influenza - this is associated with a sharp decrease in immunity, which leads to the appearance of allergic rashes. With a cold, urticaria is most often observed - multiple small blisters form on the skin.

Rash as a manifestation of diseases of internal organs

Often, a rash indicates a disruption in the functioning of internal organs; rashes appear if a large number of toxins accumulate in the body, some of them are excreted through the pores. Most often, skin manifestations occur in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, intestines, and hematological pathologies.

Description of rashes in various diseases

In diseases of the internal organs, the rash is usually located symmetrically.

Rash associated with food allergies

When introducing complementary foods, try to add one food item to your baby's diet every three to five days to rule out food allergies. If any product causes an allergy in your baby, you may notice red cheeks on your baby and a rash on your baby's body. Other possible symptoms of food allergies are vomiting and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.

Is this an allergy?

First of all, it is important to understand the nature of the rashes that appear on your baby’s body. At first glance, redness, irritation and rash clearly indicate problems in the body. However, there is a rash that is completely natural and is not something to be afraid of.

We are talking about the so-called “newborn acne,” which appears on the skin in the first month of your baby’s life. Its appearance is explained by the following: the baby’s hormonal levels begin to return to normal, and the mother’s hormones, which were obtained during pregnancy, leave the child’s body. During the process of this restructuring, a small reddish rash appears on the body - most often on the face, sometimes the rash is localized on the upper part of the body.

After a maximum of a month, such a rash goes away on its own. The only thing you shouldn’t do is squeeze out small pimples and try to “remove” them with a cotton swab.

If the redness does not go away for a long time and is accompanied by itching that bothers the baby, or the rashes become profuse, you should consult a pediatrician. Perhaps this is already a true allergy.

Newborn acne

Acne, that is, pimples, can appear on a newborn's face: usually on the cheeks, nose and forehead. Just like teenage or adult acne, newborn acne appears as red or white bumps that can appear two to four weeks after birth. There is no way to prevent acne in babies, but over time the acne will go away without leaving a scar. One of the causes of acne is considered to be the overactive work of the sebaceous glands on the child’s skin, caused by the specific action of maternal hormones (androgens).

Causes of rashes in a newborn

During pregnancy, the baby receives large quantities of hormones from the mother. After birth, the child’s body tries to get rid of them. The child experiences a so-called hormonal crisis. Excess maternal hormones cause the sebaceous glands to work actively. Since they are not yet able to function normally, blockage occurs and pimples appear.

Crusts on the head

Crusts, or seborrheic dermatitis, look like dense scaly growths on the baby's head. They can also form on the neck, armpits, behind the ears and even in the groin area. Sometimes you may also notice redness or a rash. Usually the crusts disappear on their own within a few months. If the crusts are present only on the head, try to gradually comb them out with a soft brush when you wash your baby's hair. Sometimes you may need a special shampoo, which can be prescribed by your pediatrician.

Scabies

Scabies is a rash caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin and lay eggs. After this, the child's scabies rash usually appears within two to four weeks. Scabies occurs in both infants and older children, but it manifests itself in different ways. In infants, it appears as fluid-filled pimples, and the rash usually occurs only on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In older children, you may notice small bumps next to reddened areas of the skin - the itch burrows made by the mite. If you suspect your child has scabies, consult a doctor. The specialist will be able to make a scraping to exclude or confirm the disease and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. Because scabies is a contagious dermatological disease, your doctor may recommend treatment for the entire family.

Hives

Urticaria is a fairly extensive rash on a child’s body, accompanied by itching and the appearance of blisters that have a rich pink color. The rash gets its name from its resemblance to nettle burns. Hives can appear in one area or throughout the baby’s body and even move from one area to another over the course of several hours. Causes of urticaria:

• Infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic)
• Food allergies, such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, and seafood
• An allergic reaction to contact with something, such as an animal or plant
• Insect bite, including bee sting
• Reaction to medications (such as antibiotics)

For hives, it is usually recommended to take antihistamines to help relieve the itching. A cold compress applied to the area of ​​skin affected by hives can also bring relief. If your child has difficulty swallowing or wheezes, call an ambulance immediately, as these may be symptoms of anaphylactic shock.

Contact dermatitis

• Symptoms

This hypersensitivity reaction is accompanied by redness and swelling of the skin immediately after contact with the allergen or several hours later. Small blisters, papules, and weeping erosions may appear on the affected area. A characteristic symptom of skin allergies is itching. As the inflammation subsides, scales and crusts form at the site of the blisters and inflammation. With chronic contact dermatitis, peeling of the skin is common.

• Treatment

To stop the development of an allergic reaction in an infant, it is necessary to avoid contact with the irritant substance. These can be food products, certain components of detergents and cosmetics, the juice of certain plants, etc. To treat red spots due to skin allergies, local anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of creams and ointments can be used. If swelling is severe, wet-dry dressings may be indicated. In severe cases, systemic hormonal therapy is used to treat the symptoms of contact dermatitis.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious skin disease that usually affects the nose, mouth and ears. The infection is caused by staph or streptococcal bacteria, and a baby who gets impetigo will need to take antibiotics. The doctor will order a test to find out what bacteria is causing the infection and then determine the course of treatment. Impetigo is contagious as long as the child has the rash, which sometimes forms blisters and eventually crusts over. At this stage, you need to avoid the baby's contact with other children. Avoid touching the rash to prevent the infection from spreading.

Treatment of skin diseases in children

Since childhood skin diseases occur under the influence of various factors, if a rash appears in a child, visit a dermatologist, he will prescribe tests to identify the causes of the pathology.

To combat dermatosis, drugs are used against the main causative agents of the disease, external agents and tablets are used, the action of which is aimed at eliminating unpleasant manifestations and strengthening the immune system. Physiotherapy - UHF, ultraviolet irradiation, laser therapy - is used as additional treatment methods.

Therapy is carried out at home; in case of chronic skin diseases, children are given vouchers to specialized sanatoriums.

How to treat skin diseases

If the rash occurs against the background of diseases of the kidneys, liver, blood, or digestive system, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying disease.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by a fungus and manifests itself in lesions of different sizes: oval, round or with clear boundaries. Such lesions can appear on the scalp and throughout the baby’s body. With lichen, brittleness and hair loss are observed if they are in the area of ​​infection. The infection is transmitted from person to person and even from animals to people. If a child has ringworm, no one in the family should use his brush, hair accessories, or wear his hats. Ringworm can sometimes be confused with dandruff or crusty scalp. If your child is over a year old and has a scaly rash on the scalp, it is most likely ringworm rather than scabs. A doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. If you suspect your child has ringworm, contact a specialist. By following your doctor's instructions, you will most likely say goodbye to shingles in about a week. As a rule, external agents are prescribed for treatment.

Prevention of childhood skin diseases

It is almost impossible to completely prevent the appearance of rashes on a child’s skin, but following simple rules will help reduce the risk of developing dermatological problems to a minimum.

How to avoid skin diseases:

• timely vaccination – vaccinations protect children from many viral diseases;
• regularly strengthen the immune system - hardening, following a daily routine, proper nutrition, exercise;
• observe the rules of hygiene;
• regularly carry out wet cleaning and ventilate the premises;
• immediately treat all wounds and scratches with antiseptic agents;
• take vitamin complexes twice a year;
• do not give your child antibiotics or other potent drugs without a doctor’s prescription;
• Regularly visit specialized specialists for preventive examinations.

Most skin diseases are contagious, sick children should be protected from communication with healthy ones, and they can only attend school and kindergarten if they have a certificate from a dermatologist.

Every child can develop skin rashes; the parents’ task is to contact a dermatologist in time to identify the cause of the disease, accurately follow all the doctor’s recommendations, keep the room clean, and follow hygiene rules.

Roseola

Roseola is a contagious viral infection. Symptoms include a pink rash on the baby's body, including the arms and neck. A child's body rash occurs after the child develops a fever and experiences symptoms that resemble a cold or flu. Roseola most often occurs in children under two years of age. The first signs of roseola appear ten days after infection. If your child has a temperature of 39 degrees or higher during the day, contact your doctor as soon as possible to get recommendations on how to bring down the fever. The doctor may also order a blood or urine test to confirm the diagnosis. While the baby has a fever, it is recommended to isolate him from other children to avoid the spread of infection. Once the rash disappears, the child is no longer contagious.